For my quilting friends further afield: I am delighted to share with you that I have a variety of quilting classes coming up, locally and further afield! The really fun news I can finally share, is that I will be teaching classes on both the longarm and domestic this spring at AQS Quilt Week in […]
Looking Forward (and Back) to Quilting
Welcome! My name is Mandy Leins, and I am a teacher of all things quilting: longarm and domestic quilting, and piecing. If you’ve found your way here through the BERNINA Ambassador blog hop, please you take a look around! I have tutorials and techniques over here, and my course offerings are here. I was taking […]
Quilting with Aurifil Lana Wool Thread, a Tutorial
When Bari J. sent me this quilt top to do up for Fall Market, she said I could do whatever I wanted, and since it was so simple, maybe do something fun. “OK, but, can I use wool thread,” I asked? “Whatever you want,” she replied. Delightful words! As I was looking at the top, It […]
Sewing Clutch Tutorial for Clutch Sewing
If you’re like me, you may be one of those people that wind up having a couple of last minute gifts you’re trying to finish (or find!): a gift for someone on a quilt Guild committee, a bridesmaid shower gift, birthdays… I think we’ve all found ourselves in that boat. This project, though, is one that I […]
Busy quilting day calls for stupid easy recipes
While nothing can be easier than tossing something in the crockpot from the freezer, I’m not always that great about making stuff in the crockpot to begin with. Today’s one of those days where I think, “gee, I wish I had something in the freezer,” but alas, that is not meant to be. Instead, I […]
Things I’ve learned
I’m not sure if you remember this about me: I’m a BERNINA Ambassador! I’ve been one for a little over a year, and I just finished two days at the Creative Center with other Ambassadors, learning an awesome amount of information about an awesome series of machines, with awesome people. This was my second time going, and […]
A tip on keeping bobbins tidy
I have a post over on the BERNINA blog, We All Sew where I talk about how I keep my bobbins neat and the thread from unwinding all over the place! Head on over and check it out, and while you’re there, be sure to check on the posts for their Countdown to Christmas. While I […]
Quilting for Victoria, telling a story
A couple of weeks before Market, my friend Victoria asked me if I could quilt something for a special exhibit featuring her Double Wedding Ring quilts. She needed some help, and I was glad I could step in. Victoria had originally envisioned this quilt as a marriage between traditional and modern, blending the two together, and […]
Introducing my new longarm, the BERNINA Q24
Back when I first started longarming, I had expected and planned to do certain kinds of quilting: I’d quilt for others, probably pantographs, and save the custom work for my own quilts. What actually has happened is that I have ended up doing custom for nearly everyone, with only 2 pantographs requested in the last 3 years! In […]
Some Exciting News
Y’all. Y’ALL! Yesterday, I spoke with BERNINA of America, and I’m really excited to share with you that I’m going to be a new Ambassador! I bought my first machine last year, a 710, after my old machine had a technical difficulty (a piece broke off and fell out while I was sewing). I’m pretty […]
